Uploading Photos to MobileMe Gallery results in "Request to Server Failed"

Question

Level 1

8 points

Uploading Photos to MobileMe Gallery results in "Request to Server Failed"

Hello everyone!

I've run across a very frustrating problem.

I am wanting to upload some photos to a MobileMe gallery from within iPhoto '08 (Version 7.1.4; Mac OS X 10.4.11). When I start the upload, it runs for several minutes and the progress bar appears with the message "Uploading Thumbnails". After several minutes of this (usually the progress bar gets about 1/4 of the way through), I get an error message that says "Request to Server Failed". If I try to then restart the upload by clicking on the alert icon next to the gallery name in the sidebar, the gallery disappears.

I have tried deleting the iPhoto caches from ~/Library/Caches and the "com.apple.iPhoto.plist" file from ~/Library/Preferences. I have logged out of MobileMe from System Preferences and had iPhoto log me back in. Nothing seems to work. I keep getting this error.

I have published photos to .Mac Gallery in the past (but not since the transition to MobileMe. Those galleries are still there on the web and listed in the sidebar. I'm afraid of messing with them though for fear that they too will disappear.

I've done Google searches and searches here on Apple Discussions and found no definite solutions.

I could really use some help on this one. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

PowerMac G4/933 QuickSilver II, Mac OS X (10.4.11), iPhoto '08 7.1.4

Posted on Aug 23, 2008 7:41 AM

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Answer 1

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Aug 23, 2008 9:09 AM in response to Scott Crick

Scott

Welcome to the Apple user discussion forums

While request to server failed can have different causes the most common is a server problem and only time will resolve that - try again later today and see if it works then

LN

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Answer 2

Scott Crick Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 23, 2008 9:55 AM in response to LarryHN

Thank you Larry for the response!

I should have probably pointed out that this problem has been happening for about a week now (since Monday). I have tried several times a day during that time and every time results in that error.

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Aug 23, 2008 10:14 AM in response to Scott Crick

I've never had a recurrent problem of not being able to upload galleries

here is one suggestion from the MobileMe forum

I've been having similar problems, but I then noticed when viewing my storage allocation that most of my 20GB allocation was directed towards my Mail account, so I changed to 10GB for my Mail and 10GB for my iDisk. After waiting for about an hour, I could then add to my Gallery… and my iCal started working again!

LN

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Answer 4

Scott Crick Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 23, 2008 11:54 AM in response to LarryHN

Yes, I saw that post. Unfortunately, that's not the problem. My e-mail allocation is only 1 GB, with 19 for storage.

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Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

207,751 points

Aug 23, 2008 2:30 PM in response to Scott Crick

How many galleries do you have? If only a few try deleting them manually from the iDisk/Web/Sites/_gallery folder and republish from iPhoto.

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. Just put the application in the Dock and click on it whenever you want to backup the dB file. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

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Answer 6

Scott Crick Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 24, 2008 1:24 PM in response to Old Toad

I currently have 7 galleries. I suppose I could try, but I'm worried about deleting them if I can't get them back up again.

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Answer 7

Old Toad

Level 10

207,751 points

Aug 24, 2008 1:32 PM in response to Scott Crick

You can go to your iDisk/Web/Sites folder and download the "_gallery" folder which contains all of your web galleries. Then delete them thru iPhoto and republish. You can always manually upload the contents of the _gallery folder via the Finder if you can't get thru the publish phase.

OT

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Answer 8

Aug 25, 2008 5:33 AM in response to Scott Crick

I am having the exact same problem, in my case I am exporting from raw files, and I was wondering if the process of converting the files is making tHe server time out. Some images load, but more than half do not. Are you exporting from raw?

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Answer 9

Old Toad

Level 10

207,751 points

Aug 25, 2008 10:17 AM in response to craig stewart

Craig:

Since iPhoto creates a jpg version of any RAW file upon import I would think that's the file that is getting resized down to the 800 x 600 size for gallery use and not the RAW file.

OT

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Answer 10

Aug 25, 2008 6:52 PM in response to Old Toad

I was not certain if iPhoto used the embedded JPG for preview purposes, only exporting a JPG when needed, such as uploading to MobileMe.

Sure wish I could figure out why it won't go any further. 😟

Craig

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